Department for Transport

Shipping: Pay

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the validity of the negotiating position of seafarer representatives ahead of the meeting of the Joint Maritime Commission's Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva on 20 to 21 June 2018.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Joint Maritime Commission’s Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers is a bipartite meeting between representatives of the seafarers and the shipowners. Government representatives do not normally attend or take part and the composition of the sub-Committee should not be influenced by Governments.The participants who attend are a matter only for the seafarers and the shipowners groups respectively and those who attend the sub-Committee will be recognised as being representative of their sector by the social partners and the ILO.

Network Rail: Assets

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in businesses directly affected by Network Rail's decision to sell its commercial assets.

Joseph Johnson: Network Rail’s commercial estate in England and Wales comprises over 3,000 business tenants. Network Rail does not hold figures for the number of people employed by its tenants.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Timetables

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Govia Thameslink Railway on whether all sections of new routes implemented as part of the new rail timetable must be covered in a classroom setting before a driver covers the route.

Joseph Johnson: The training of drivers on new or upgraded routes is a matter for the operator and may be undertaken by a variety of training methods.

Network Rail: Property

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2018 to Question 152257 on Network Rail: Property, what protections will be afforded to Network Rail tenants in relation to future rent increases after the sale of Network Rail’s arches estate.

Joseph Johnson: In November 2017, Network Rail announced the sale of its commercial estate business in England and Wales. It is a non-core property asset, which produces commercial income for Network Rail and is not essential for running the railway.Network Rail manages its commercial estate as a commercial business. Its rents are set with reference to local property market conditions. Rent reviews happen on a periodic basis as outlined in tenants’ leases and in accordance with normal commercial property market practice.Once the business is sold, all current leases will transfer to the new buyer and all lease arrangements will be unchanged. The tenants’ notice period will also continue as per their original lease agreement. Tenants will continue to be subject to rent reviews as they are currently and as outlined above.

Aviation: Training

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that flight instructors (a) are governed by the same professional standards as teachers and (b) operate under the same safeguards as teachers with respect to relationships with students under the age of 18.

Jesse Norman: The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 places responsibility for safeguarding with the aviation training provider. The provider must ensure that they have a safeguarding process in place for those individuals employed or working with them, for the protection of persons under the age of 18, who use their services. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) oversees UK flight instructors to ensure that they meet the requirements of UK and European aviation legislation. The CAA reminds training organisations that instruct persons under the age of 18 to be aware of their safeguarding obligations. The Government currently has no plans to amend this system of safeguards.

Network Rail: Tree Felling

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date his policy to stop tree felling on Network Rail land came into force.

Joseph Johnson: Network Rail agreed to suspend all tree felling for the duration of the current nesting season, except where it is safety critical, on 11th May 2018. This followed my announcement on 10th May, that I would commission an independent review into Network Rail’s approach to vegetation management in England and Wales.

Network Rail: Tree Felling

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under what conditions trees on Network Rail land can still be felled.

Joseph Johnson: Network Rail published its own position statement on the 11th May 2018, outlining the conditions where tree felling may continue, in accordance with Network Rail’s statutory responsibility to ensure the safe operation of the railways. This guidance states that all tree felling activity in England and Wales must cease, except where the work is safety critical.

Department for Transport: Policy

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the main policy priority is for his Department for 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department for Transport published an updated Single Departmental Plan on 23 May 2018. This set out the department’s main policy objectives and how it will achieve them. Single Departmental Plans will be revised annually to reflect new priorities or changes in responsibilities.

Cars: Exhaust Emissions

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether new car emission regulations due to come into force late in 2018 will apply to kit cars which are not completed by the date on which those regulations come into force.

Joseph Johnson: Following a recent consultation on national regulations, the Government has decided not to make any changes to the emissions rules which apply when kit cars and similar vehicles undergo an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection.

Severn Tunnel: Closures

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic effect of the temporary closure of the Severn Tunnel.

Joseph Johnson: Network Rail have closed the Severn Tunnel in preparation for electrification from London to Cardiff from 16th June – 7th July. In preparation for the £5 billion modernisation of the Great Western Mainline, the Department funded the Swindon to Kemble redoubling project to provide a robust diversionary route for passengers and freight to South Wales.

Severn Tunnel: Closures

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether electrical equipment installed during the previous closure of the Severn Tunnel has rusted.

Joseph Johnson: The overhead conductor system is showing early signs of deterioration because of the wet and corrosive environment in the Severn Tunnel. Network Rail have identified this early on and are addressing this matter prior to energisation of the electrification system.

Railways: EU Law

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list the EU regulations or directives which underpin the operation of (a) Eurotunnel services and (b) the cross-border train service between Belfast and Dublin.

Joseph Johnson: EU legislation provides the regulatory framework for cross-border rail services, including the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise service. This makes provision for market access rights; safety and interoperability requirements; train driver licensing; as well as the rights of passengers and cross-border rail workers. On 27 November the Department for Exiting the European Union provided analysis covering 58 sectors of the economy to the House of Commons Committee on Exiting the EU and the House of Lords European Union Committee. The rail sectoral report included a full analysis of the current EU rail regulatory regime and is available at: https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/Exiting-the-European-Union/17-19/Sectoral%20Analyses/29-Rail-Report.pdf. In addition, a series of bilateral or multilateral international agreements, including the Treaty of Canterbury, the Concession Agreement and the Rail Usage Contract, provide the legal framework which underpins the operation of the Channel Tunnel Fixed Link and Eurotunnel’s services. The cross-border rail services that link us with the EU, both through the Channel Tunnel and on the island of Ireland, have greatly benefited citizens and businesses in both the UK and the EU. It is in our mutual interests to ensure these services continue to be a success.

Bus Services: Franchises

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2018 to Question 151195 on Bus Services: Franchises, how many interested (a) local authorities and (b) Mayoral Combined Authorities his Department is assisting to determine which of the powers provided in the Bus Services Act 2017 are best able to support bus networks in those areas.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many expressions of interest in Enhanced Partnerships from local authorities his Department has received since the Bus Services Act came into force.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many expressions of interest in Advanced Quality Partnerships from local authorities his Department has received since the Bus Services Act came into force.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Bus Services Act 2017 gave Mayoral Combined Authorities the powers to franchise buses and all local authorities the powers to introduce Enhanced Partnerships or Advance Quality Partnerships, without further intervention from the Department for Transport. Officials from the Department meet regularly with a range of local authorities to provide advice and support on issues related to buses, but we cannot provide an exhaustive list of local authorities which are considering using these powers. The Bus Services Act 2017 also enabled the Department for Transport to grant franchising powers to local authorities who seek these powers. To date, no local authorities have sought these powers.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Insolvency: Misconduct

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many licensed insolvency practitioners have been charged with misconduct since the publication of the Tomlinson report, Banks' Lending Practices: Treatment of Businesses in distress, published in November 2013.

Andrew Griffiths: Details of sanctions imposed against insolvency practitioners by their licensing bodies are published each year as part of The Insolvency Service’s ‘Annual Review of Insolvency Practitioner Regulation’. In addition, sanctions within the past 12 months are published individually on The Service’s website. 108 sanctions have been published since the beginning of January 2014. 2 recent sanctions will be added to the website shortly.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the regulatory bodies sponsored by his Department.

Andrew Griffiths: The Department has identified a number of partner organisations as performing regulatory functions. They are the British Hallmarking Council, the Coal Authority, the Competition and Markets Authority, the Copyright Tribunal, the Financial Reporting Council, the Insolvency Service, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, the Oil and Gas Authority and the UK Space Agency.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the regulatory bodies sponsored by his Department that are not subject to Freedom of Information legislation.

Andrew Griffiths: All our regulatory bodies are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 with the exception of the Financial Reporting Council which is subject to the Act for some but not all of its functions. The Financial Reporting Council and its status under the Freedom of Information Act is currently being reviewed by Sir John Kingman. We expect the review to report at the end of 2018.

Directors: Convictions

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many UK resident directors of UK registered companies have criminal convictions.

Andrew Griffiths: Companies House does not hold this information. Having a criminal conviction does not preclude a person from being a director. Consequently, Companies House does not ask for or record this information.

Directors: Convictions

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many non-UK resident directors of UK registered companies have criminal convictions.

Andrew Griffiths: Companies House does not hold this information. Having a criminal conviction does not preclude a person from being a director. Consequently, Companies House does not ask for or record this information.

Business Bank Italy

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will exercise his powers under the Companies Act 2006 to wind up Business Bank Italy Limited.

Andrew Griffiths: Unless it is already in voluntary liquidation, a company may only be wound up by a petition to the Court. There are no provisions in the Companies Act 2006 for the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to present a petition to wind a company up; these are contained in the Insolvency Act 1986. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy may present a petition, as provided in the Insolvency Act 1986 only if he decides it is in the public interest to do so, having considered a report of information obtained by a statutory investigation into the company's affairs. I am not currently aware of any ongoing investigation into Business Bank Italy Limited.

Directors: Children

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the number of directors of companies registered in the UK who are aged under 16.

Andrew Griffiths: There are no directors of companies registered in the UK who are aged under 16.

British Home Stores: Insolvency

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for the Insolvency Service to publish its report on BHS.

Andrew Griffiths: The Insolvency Service is currently bringing disqualification proceedings against a number of former directors of BHS and connected companies. As these matters may now be tested in Court it would not be appropriate to comment or issue further information at this time.Once the disqualification proceedings are complete government will consider what detail it is appropriate to publish, having full regard to any legal restrictions on publication and also the legitimate public interest in the cause of the BHS failure.

Accountancy: Regulation

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who is responsible for monitoring good governance of the Recognised Supervisory Bodies.

Andrew Griffiths: The Secretary of State has delegated responsibility for overseeing the work of recognised supervisory bodies (RSBs) to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). The FRC must be satisfied that an RSB meets the conditions set out in Schedule 10 of the Companies Act 2006, as amended by the Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016, in order for it to be recognised. In addition, as the competent authority for statutory audit, the FRC must be satisfied that each RSB has the necessary arrangements in place to fulfil the audit regulatory tasks delegated to it by the FRC. If necessary where there is a failure to meet the required conditions the FRC can reclaim any audit regulatory functions that it has delegated to an RSB. If an RSB does not meet the Schedule 10 requirements, the FRC can remove the body’s recognition as a supervisory body.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Military Intervention

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, what British-supplied military equipment has been used by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Yemen since 1 January 2017.

Alistair Burt: The UK has licensed the export of a variety of military equipment to Saudi Arabia. We do not have a full picture of which specific items have been used in Yemen, but some combat aircraft have been used there. Details of export licences issued to Saudi Arabia are available in the official statistics published by the Department for International Trade on www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.

Conflict Prevention

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to implement pillar two of the Responsibility to Protect principle in order to protect civilians caught up in conflict overseas.

Mark Field: The UK uses its range of diplomatic, development, humanitarian and security tools, both bilaterally and within multilateral fora such as the United Nations, to encourage, persuade and support States to exercise their responsibility to protect their populations. This is consistent with the UN Secretary-General's suggestions on the forms of action under Pillar II that States might take in "helping States build capacity to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity."

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 23 May 2018 on Saudi Arabia, HCWS716, whether he sought legal advice on the UK Government's role in providing information, advice and assistance to Saudi Arabia against the threat of Houthi missiles; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: ​Legal advice was sought prior to the Written Ministerial Statement of 23 May.

South Sandwich Islands: Environmental Protection

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to protect the natural environment in the South Sandwich Islands with a view to establishing a reserve around the islands.

Sir Alan Duncan: The protection of the South Sandwich Islands is one of the key objectives of the South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA), which was designated in 2012. This sustainable-use MPA provides for a very small fishery of toothfish around the South Sandwich Islands, which is conducted in line with research protocols to support the scientific monitoring of the toothfish around the Territory.There is also a notional catch allocation for krill, based on the scientific advice of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, but this has not been fished in over 25 years. The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands is currently undertaking the first 5-year review of the MPA and will be considering scientifically-based recommendations on how to ensure the MPA continues to deliver its conservation objectives.

Qatar: Telecommunications

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made representations to the Qatari government on the blocking by that country of VoIP communications software, including Skype and the effect of that on expatriate communities in Qatar.

Boris Johnson: A free and open internet is a fundamental tool for both promoting freedom of expression and creating the conditions conducive to investment and stability. We are aware of reports about the unreliability of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications software in Qatar, although it does not appear to be a universal issue. Our Embassy in Doha continues to monitor and keep the situation under review.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on the use of UK-manufactured (a) weapons and (b) planes by the United Arab Emirates in the military campaign in Yemen.

Boris Johnson: The UK has licensed the export of a variety of military items and components to the United Arab Emirates. Details are available in the official statistics published by the Department for International Trade at www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. We cannot categorically state which, if any, items exported under these licences have been used in Yemen. All decisions to approve export licences are considered on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU & National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (Consolidated Criteria). We will not license the export of items to any country where we assess that there is a clear risk that they might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law. We keep our approach to all countries under continual review.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the involvement of French Special Forces in the conflict in Yemen.

Boris Johnson: It is longstanding policy of succesive governments that we do not comment on the activities of our Special Forces or those of our allies.

Bangladesh: Rohingya

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of his Department’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative experts are providing assistance to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Boris Johnson: Four members of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Team of Exerts (ToE) have been deployed to Bangladesh to date by this Department in support of survivors of sexual violence among Rohingya refugees. We are planning a further deployment by two experts in July. Their work will inform future UK-led capacity building for practitioners by experts, including members of the ToE. This forms part of the UK’s wider £129 million humanitarian response to the crisis.

Rohingya: Sexual Offences

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of his Department’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative experts have been deployed to assist Rohingya refugees since August 2017.

Boris Johnson: Four members of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Team of Experts (PSVI ToE) have been deployed to Bangladesh to date by this Department in support of survivors of sexual violence among Rohingya refugees. This forms part of the UK’s wider £129 million humanitarian response to the crisis that includes counselling and psychological support to more than 10,000 women, supporting 30 child-friendly spaces and training and deploying midwives to Cox’s Bazar to help provide 53,500 women with midwifery care. As independent experts, two members of the ToE have also been contracted by other organisations to deliver work in support of the Rohingya which has benefitted this department’s work.

Overseas Students: Visas

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his Department provided to the Home Office on their criteria to determine the countries that qualified for the recent relaxation of Tier 4 visa requirements for overseas students.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his Department provided to the Home Office on the decision to exclude India from the countries that qualified for the recent relaxation of Tier 4 visa requirements for overseas students.

Boris Johnson: Decisions on changes to the countries included in Appendix H of the Immigration Rules were taken using established HMG criteria which are discussed from time to time among Departments.

Cyprus: Peace Negotiations

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the re-unification of Cyprus.

Sir Alan Duncan: As a strong supporter of a comprehensive and just Cyprus settlement based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, we regularly engage with the parties to the settlement talks at all levels. The Prime Minister discussed the issue with President Anastasiades in London on 17 April. I discussed the issue with Cypriot Foreign Minister Christodoulides on 20 April. The British Ambassador to Turkey discussed the issue with senior Turkish officials in mid-June. The Foreign Secretary last met with the parties at the Conference on Cyprus in Crans Montana, Switzerland on 27 June 2017.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Policy

Philip Davies: To ask the Attorney General, what the main policy priority is for his Department for 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: The priorities I have set for my Department include:Helping deliver Government policy in the context of the Law Officers’ constitutional role in relation to the Rule of Law.Defining and delivering the Law Officers’ public interest functions in the interests of the administration of justice.Performing a visible and effective role as a leader in the domestic and international legal community.Sponsoring the Law Officers’ Departments and connecting the work of the prosecutors with wider criminal justice policy.Ensuring a high performing and efficient Attorney General’s Office which meets its legal and performance obligations.

Department for Education

Schools: Repairs and Maintenance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding was awarded to schools in each region through the Condition Improvement Fund in the last two years.

Nick Gibb: The total amount of funding awarded to schools in each of the English regions from the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) in each of the last two years is shown in the table.The CIF figures for 2017-18 included allocations made after the appeals process had been completed. The appeals process for 2018-19 has not yet been completed.YearGovernment Office Region2017-182018-19East Midlands£ 49,300,167£ 45,795,430East of England£ 80,526,588£ 70,125,909London£ 72,828,387£ 60,733,534North East£ 13,274,094£ 14,847,714North West£ 55,273,124£ 61,491,720South East£ 61,892,560£ 84,275,380South West£ 68,574,975£ 60,318,709West Midlands£ 80,258,518£ 68,727,523Yorkshire and the Humber£ 51,142,384£ 47,741,813TOTAL£ 533,070,797£ 514,057,732

Erasmus+ Programme

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been allocated in EU funding to the Erasmus+ programme by region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last four years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The European Commission allocates funding for decentralised actions of the Erasmus+ programme to the UK. Details of spending in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the first three years of the programme (2014-16) are available at https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/statistics under ‘Projects funded’ ‘Data Tables’. Data by English region is not available. Data for 2017 is expected to be published on that site in November.The European Commission does not not publish a breakdown of centralised funding (administered by the Commission) below Member State level.

Apprentices

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to make apprenticeships more affordable for apprentices.

Anne Milton: Apprenticeships are paid jobs with training - they benefit people of all ages and backgrounds, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn without having to pay for training or qualifications.We provide funding so that employers and providers can support their apprentices with some of the costs of their apprenticeships. We provide up to £600 to training providers to support apprentices from the 27 per cent most disadvantaged postcode areas when they train on a framework, and £150 a month where an apprentice requires further learning support as a result of conditions such as dyslexia or other learning difficulties and disabilities. We also provide a £1,000 payment to providers and employers when they take on a 16-18 year old apprentice. The funding we provide ensures that any additional costs are not passed on to employers or providers.A young person on an apprenticeship will receive at least the apprentice national minimum wage, which increased to £3.70 per hour in April 2018. This represents a 5.7 per cent increase and means the Apprentice rate is at a record high in nominal and real terms. The Low Pay Commission estimates that the increase will benefit up to 34,000 apprentices. In England, the mean pay rate for level 2 apprentices is £6.69; the level 2 median is £6.35. The mean pay rate for level 3 apprentices is £7.38; the level 3 median is £7.10. In addition, from August 2018, we are introducing a £1,000 bursary to eligible care leavers aged 16-24 starting an apprenticeship. We understand that care leavers face particular financial disadvantage and government has a responsibility to support them as they transition into the world of work through an apprenticeship.

Construction Industry Training Board: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals contained in the Construction Industry Training Board's Vision 2020 on the number of people employed by that Board.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals in the Construction Industry Training Board's report Vision 2020 – The Future CITB moves forward on the (a) quality and (b) availability of training for the construction industry.

Anne Milton: We published a review of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) last autumn which makes a number of recommendations to improve the performance of the CITB, and it is now embarking on a reform programme, which has the support of the industry. Central to this reform is a refocusing of CITB that will see it concentrate on its core mission of working with industry to ensure improved access to high quality construction training provision in order to meet the industry’s skills needs in both the short and long term. We understand that delivery of these reforms will be significant challenge, and CITB will need to consider what changes to their operational model are appropriate. It is important that due consultation takes place regarding sites and people affected by these decisions and we know that CITB are consulting with their employees, employee representatives, and local authorities and MPs on the changes required to deliver their stretching reforms.

Ministry of Justice

Personal Injury: Compensation

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what measure the rates in the tariff of fixed compensation for soft tissue injury have been determined.

Rory Stewart: In setting the figures published in draft regulations alongside the Civil Liability Bill, the Government considered a number of factors including both the suggested guidelines for compensation set by the judiciary and the average levels of whiplash compensation paid, as well as the overall Government objectives to control costs and benefit consumers through reduced premiums. The tariff amounts have been up-rated to reflect changes in the recently published 14th Edition of Judicial College Guidelines. The final figures will be set by regulations which will be debated by Parliament through the affirmative resolution procedure, subject to the successful passage of the Bill.

Prison Officers: Death

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice,  how many prison officers have died in service in each of the last eight years.

Rory Stewart: The number of band 3-5 prison officers who have died whilst working at HMPPS can be found in table 11b of the latest HMPPS workforce statistics publication tables at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/708056/hr-publication-tables-march-2018.xlsxThe statistics breakdown is not specified and the majority are likely to be natural causes.

Prison Officers: Termination of Employment

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers have left service due to (a) ill health and (b) lack of capability in each of the last eight years.

Rory Stewart: HM Prison and Probation Service has robust policies and mechanisms in place to support staff where medical retirement requires consideration. Similarly, the poor performance policy provides a structured programme for staff to achieve specific goals within a specified time to support and improve their performance. For this response, ill health is taken to mean medical retirement and lack of capability is taken to mean dismissal due to poor performance. The number of band 3-5 prison officers who have left HMPPS as a result of medical retirement and dismissals due to poor performance can be found in table 11b of the latest HMPPS workforce statistics publication tables at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/708056/hr-publication-tables-march-2018.xlsx

Crime: Victims

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what meetings his Department has held with victims organisations on law for victims of crime in the last twelve months.

Rory Stewart: Supporting victims of crime is a priority for the Government and we have made a commitment to publish a Victims Strategy this Summer. We are looking at legislative and non-legislative options to give effect to the Strategy. My predecessor met regularly with the Victims’ Commissioner and victims organisations, as well as directly with victims of crime. I will continue this engagement and I look forward to hearing from victims and those who support them.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) current waiting time and (b) waiting time was in each year since 2010 for appeals relating to (i) personal independence payments and (ii) employment and support allowance in (A) Huddersfield, (B) Bradford and (C) Leeds.

Rory Stewart: PIP was introduced in 2013, therefore this explains the sharp increase in waiting times since 2013.Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, more than 3.1 million decisions have been made, and of these under 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. For ESA the figure is only 8% of decisions made were appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals. The information requested is in the table below:Average time receipt to outcome (weeks) 1 BradfordHuddersfieldLeedsApr-MarPersonal Independence Payments2Employment Support Allowance3Personal Independence Payments2Employment Support Allowance2Personal Independence Payments2Employment Support Allowance32017/182825403926242016/171817222416152015/162322242920212014/152137263219282013/14026039~202012/130190360172011/120260280182010/110310250152009/100130~08 Data include cases cleared with and without a Tribunal hearingPersonal Independent Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on the 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independent Claims (Reassessments)Data include Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2008 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.~ Equates to a value fewer than 5Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale management system and are the best data available.The data may differ slightly to that of the published stats as these data were run on a different date. The volume of PIP appeals made to the tribunal has built up over time since it was introduced as a new benefit in 2013. Clearance times are dependent on several factors, such as the availability of the appellant or their representative, or hearing capacity at the local Tribunal venue. Additionally, a decision on the appeal may be reached after a hearing has been adjourned (which may be directed by the judge for a variety of reasons, such as to seek further evidence), or after a hearing has been postponed (again, for a variety of reasons, often at the request of the appellant). An appeal may also have been referred back to the First-tier Tribunal by the Upper Tribunal for disposal. Cases may also have been stayed at the First-tier Tribunal, pending a decision by the Upper Tribunal on a lead case.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are waiting to have their appeal heard at a Tribunal for (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment and support allowance in the Halifax constituency.

Rory Stewart: Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, more than 3.1 million decisions have been made, and of these under 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. For ESA the figure is only 8% of decisions made were appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals. The information requested is in the table below:Number of cases that are ready to list1 for a hearing in the Bradford Venue2YearPersonal Independence Payment3Employment Support Allowance431 March 2018973430 Ready to list includes cases waiting to be listed for a tribunal hearing. These cases may have already had an initial hearing and be awaiting a subsequent hearing.Social Security and Child Support appeals are normally registered to the venue nearest to the appellant’s home address. We cannot retrieve data based on the appellant’s actual address, but can produce reports detailing the numbers of cases that were dealt with at one of our Regional Centres or heard at a specific venue. Cases relating to Halifax constituency are registered to the Bradford venue. The above figures relate to all cases outstanding at the Bradford venue rather than just those for the Halifax constituency.Personal Independent Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on the 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independent Claims (Reassessments)Includes Employment Support Allowance and Employment Support Allowance (reassessments) Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale management system and are the best data available.The data may differ slightly to those of the published stats as these data were run on a different date.

Treasury

Tax Evasion

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made in its inquiry into the Luxembourg Leaks.

Mel Stride: HMRC has reviewed all the documents relating to 142 customers who had documents relating to their tax affairs disclosed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.This work did not reveal a single case of material information where either the detail of the transactions had not already been provided to HMRC or when examined did no more than confirm HMRC’s understanding of particular arrangements that were already known to HMRC.

Tax Evasion

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made in its inquiry into the Panama Papers.

Mel Stride: HMRC has made significant progress in relation to the Panama Papers. Since the last update to Parliament in October 2017, HMRC has more than doubled the number of criminal and civil investigations linked to the Panama papers. To date, the work of HMRC has led to civil and criminal investigations into 140 individuals for suspected tax evasion, including high net worth individuals. As part of this HMRC has made four arrests; and carried out six interviews under caution.HMRC continues to work alongside UK and international partners to identify and tackle tax and economic crime in all its forms.

Pendragon

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Supreme Court's judgment on Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs v Pendragon plc and others [2015] UKSC 37 that the KPMG scheme was an abuse of law; what action his Department has taken against that firm.

Mel Stride: This government is clear that everyone has a responsibility to pay the tax that is owed. HMRC cannot comment on individual cases, but it will investigate any allegations of wrongdoing brought to its attention and is undertaking a process of discussions around tax avoidance with a range of agents. HMRC is taking action against the promoters and enablers of tax avoidance schemes. This includes the recent introduction of a penalty regime for anyone who designs, sells, or otherwise enables tax avoidance arrangements, proactively reporting scheme promoters to the Advertising Standards Authority where they make misleading claims about their products and services, and considering criminal investigation where appropriate. HMRC publishes the standard it expects agents to adhere to and monitors the standards and has several powers to address poor agent practice in instances where the HMRC standard for agents is breached.

Tax Avoidance

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made on its inquiry into the Paradise Papers.

Mel Stride: HMRC is looking very closely at the information the ICIJ has released in the Paradise Papers to see if it reveals anything new that could add to their existing leads and investigations. In a significant number of cases that HMRC have reviewed, the practices and schemes which the data points to were either already known to HMRC or have no UK tax consequences. Since 2010, HMRC has brought in more that £2.8 billion from domestic and global initiatives to tackle offshore tax evaders.

Revenue and Customs

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many court and tribunal cases (a) brought by HMRC and (b) against HMRC are awaiting a hearing.

Mel Stride: This data is not collated centrally, and an accurate answer could not be provided except at disproportionate cost. The vast majority of HMRC cases are waiting to be heard before the First Tier Tribunal. At 31 March 2018, there were over 25,000 appeals on hand in the FTT. Over 16,000 of those appeals are ‘stood over’. This is where HMRC and the taxpayer have agreed to put the appeal on hold waiting for a decision in a related case. Stood over cases are not actively progressed by the tribunal and can remain on hand for many years while the lead case is decided. There are approximately 9,000 lead cases actively making their way through the First Tier Tribunal where HMRC are either actively working the cases, progressing them within tribunal directions, or are waiting either to be heard by the tribunal or awaiting a tribunal decisions to be issued.

Tax Avoidance

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from (a) financial organisations (b) other organisations and (c) individuals on the introduction of the 2019 Loan Charge.

Mel Stride: The charge on disguised remuneration (DR) loans was announced at Budget 2016 and has been introduced to tackle the use of DR tax avoidance schemes. These schemes are contrived arrangements that pay loans in place of ordinary remuneration to avoid income tax and National Insurance contributions. The charge will apply to outstanding DR loan balances on 5 April 2019 to ensure scheme users pay their fair share of tax. The Government published a consultation document on this policy on 10 August 2016. The Government received 338 written responses to the consultation, of which 260 were from individuals and 78 from organisations including businesses, and professional bodies. A list of the organisations which responded can be found at Annex A of the ‘Tackling disguised remuneration: Technical note and summary of responses document’. This can be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/574567/Tackling_disguised_remuneration_-_Technical_note_and_summary_of_responses.pdf The charge on DR loans was introduced by Finance (no. 2) Act 2017, with supplementary provisions in Finance Act 2018. Representations were made by organisations and individuals as legislation passed through Parliament.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Help to Buy Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the return from Help to Buy deposits used to purchase leasehold properties when they are resold.

Dominic Raab: From the start of the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme in April 2013 to the end of December 2017, 3,905 equity loans taken out on leasehold properties have been redeemed, to a total value of £188,874,391. On 21 December 2017 the Government announced it would bring forward legislation to prohibit new long leases from being granted on houses, apart from in exceptional circumstances. The then Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid also wrote to all developers to strongly discourage the use of Help to Buy equity loans for the purchase of leasehold houses.The sector has responded positively and, of the 26 biggest developers in Englandthat use Help to Buy, the majority have confirmed that they will meet this expectation.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has identified all the privately-owned tower blocks that have aluminium composite cladding systems which needs to be replaced.

James Brokenshire: I refer the Rt Hon Member to my Written Ministerial Statement entitled Building Safety Update, made on 28 June 2018 (HCWS811).

Right to Acquire Scheme

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will extend the Right to Acquire scheme to properties built before March 1997.

Dominic Raab: The Government has a commitment to extend the Right to Buy to housing association tenants. This will include tenants who qualify for the Right to Acquire but whose homes are exempt as they were built or acquired by their housing association landlord before 1997.The Midlands pilot of the voluntary extension of the Right to Buy will give thousands more housing association tenants the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of home ownership. The Government is currently engaging with the National Housing Federation and housing associations in the Midlands, and more details on the pilot will be announced in due course.There are no plans to amend the Right to Acquire.

Planning Permission

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will revise Planning Policy and Planning Guidance to enable decision-makers to refuse planning applications on grounds where (a) an applicant provides misleading and inaccurate information in a Statement of Community involvement submitted with a planning application and (b) an applicant proposing a major development who deliberately circumvents a local planning authorities' stated expectations of the pre-application consultation process.

Dominic Raab: The Government recognises that it is important that local planning authorities, communities and Planning Inspectors can rely on the information contained in planning applications, and applicants or those representing them are asked to confirm that the information provided is, to the best of their knowledge, truthful and accurate. There are no current plans to amend existing planning policy and guidance in this regard.Local planning authorities are encouraged to provide pre-application advice to applicants. Pre-application engagement by prospective applicants offers significant potential to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning application system and improve the quality of planning applications and their likelihood of success. It is possible for an applicant to suggest changes to an application before the local planning authority has determined the proposal. It is equally possible after the consultation period for the local planning authority to ask the applicant if it would be possible to revise the application to overcome a possible objection. It is at the discretion of the local planning authority whether to accept such changes, to determine if the changes need to be re-consulted upon, or if the proposed changes are so significant as to materially alter the proposal such that a new application should be submitted.An application for planning permission is not valid unless it is accompanied by a certificate which applicants must complete that provides certain details about the ownership of the application site and confirms that an appropriate notice has been served on any other owners (and agricultural tenants). It is an offence to complete a false or misleading certificate, either knowingly or recklessly, with a maximum fine of £5,000.A person who makes a false or misleading statement in connection with a planning application, knowing that it was or might be untrue or misleading, with the intent to make a gain for himself may be prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006.

Housing Supply: Braintree

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2018 to Question 130573 and Questions 117485, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including the increase in the housing supply in the Braintree District in Braintree District Council's latest five year supply of housing publication, dated 31 March 2018 as contributing towards the grounds for refusing the respective planning applications currently under consideration.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2018 to Questions 130573 and Question 117485, if he will consider the progression of Hatfield Peverel's Neighbourhood Plan as contributing towards the grounds for refusing the respective planning applications he is currently considering.

Dominic Raab: The respective planning applications are still under consideration. The target date for determining the cases has been extended to 12 September 2018. This is to allow for consideration of new information which may be material to the determination of these applications and appeal. The Secretary of State will take into account all relevant material considerations when reaching decisions on these cases.

New Towns: Essex

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on the garden community proposals for North Essex of the letter from Planning Inspector, Mr Roger Clews, dated 8 June 2018 addressed to Braintree District Council, Colchester Borough Council and Tendring District Council on the examination in public of the respective Councils' Local Plan proposals.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will assess the effect on the garden community proposals for North Essex of the Government planning inspector's letter of 8 June 2018 to Braintree District, Colchester Borough and Tendring District Councils in relation to the examination in public of their Local Plan proposals.

Dominic Raab: We welcome the planning inspector’s report on section 1 of joint local plan submitted by Colchester Borough and Tendring and Braintree District Councils for examination in public earlier this year. The proposals to create three new garden communities with new homes for up to 43,000 homes in North Essex are, by their nature, ambitious and long-term. The Planning Inspectorate has an important role to play in assessing those proposals and identifying areas that need further consideration. The inspector’s letter of 8 June 2018 sets out a number of such areas. It will be for the local authorities to decide on how to proceed.

Fire Prevention: Insulation

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions Officials in his Department have had with Officials in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the commissioning of the Manufacturing Technology Centre to review the removal and replacement processes for cladding systems.

James Brokenshire: Official level discussions in relation to this project started last year and are on going.

Planning Permission: Braintree

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on communities in Braintree District of planning appeals for major developments that have been approved on sites that are outside the settlement boundaries contained in Braintree District Council's Local Plan.

Dominic Raab: The relevant policies are contained within the Braintree District Local Development Framework Core Strategy 2011, the Braintree Local Plan Review and the National Planning Policy Framework. These contain policies concerning development outside of settlement boundaries in order to protect the character of the countryside. The Secretary of State will pay due regard to these as a part of the decision making process.

Planning Permission: Braintree

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward more legislative proposals to (a) protect local communities from the effect of off-Local Plan developments and (b) facilitate development sites to be developed in accordance with a (i) Local Plan; and (ii) Neighbourhood Plan.

Dominic Raab: An up-to-date Local Plan prepared in consultation with local people, and a robust five-year housing land supply, are the best protections for communities against speculative development.The revised draft National Planning Policy Framework was clear that where a planning application conflicts with an up-to-date development plan (including any neighbourhood plans that have been brought into force) permission should not usually be granted.We have ensured greater protection for neighbourhood plans where the local planning authority lack a five year supply of housing sites and their plan is not considered up to date. These protections were introduced through a Written Ministerial Statement in November 2016 and were included in the draft Framework.We have also introduced new requirements for Local Plans to be reviewed every five years, to ensure they remain up to date and fit for purpose.The draft revised Framework also offers local authorities the opportunity to have their five-year housing land supply agreed on an annual basis and fixed for a one-year period. This is intended to offer greater certainty to local authorities and communities on the housing land position and therefore reduce the risk of speculative applications being granted on appeal.To ensure Local Plans provide enough sites to give a realistic prospect of achieving supply on the ground, they must demonstrate those sites are deliverable and provide a 20 per cent buffer in their supply where there has been significant under-delivery in the past.

Ministry of Defence

Middle East: Military Intervention

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many missions Sentry aircraft were involved in in (a) Iraq and (b) Syria between September 2014 and June 2018.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hours of flight time Sentry aircraft flew in total over (a) Syria and (b) Iraq between September 2014 and June 2018.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many missions and how much flight time Sentry aircraft flew in support of the UK’s commitment to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic between July 2016 and June 2018.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) hours and (b) missions on average were flown by Sentry aircraft protecting the UK coast in each of the last three years.

Mark Lancaster: I am withholding details of the number of missions and hours flown by the RAF's E-3D Sentry fleet on specific taskings as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Cadets

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people from the Army Cadet Force joined the British Army in each of the last three years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: This information is not routinely recorded by the Department.The Army Cadet Force is sponsored and supported by the Ministry of Defence, to help young people develop important life skills and assist them in reaching their full potential at school and beyond. Some cadets subsequently choose to join the Armed Forces based on this positive experience, although there is no obligation for them to do so.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Undocumented Migrants

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many decisions to stop benefits have been made for people who were found to have no lawful reason to be here since 2010.

Alok Sharma: The Department has regular discussions with other Government Departments in the context of ensuring that the benefit system is fair to British citizens, those who settle here and those who migrate to the UK. DWP officials work closely with the Home Office and other Government bodies to help individuals to confirm their residency in the UK and ensure that they receive the support to which they are entitled. The department does not collect statistical information by citizenship status and so does not hold the specific information requested.

Universal Credit: Domestic Violence

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether training on domestic abuse will be provided for people working on the application and administration of universal credit.

Alok Sharma: In supporting victims of domestic violence, DWP offers a range of support open to survivors and those still experiencing domestic abuse.Jobcentre staff delivering Universal Credit undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for working with different vulnerable groups, including people who have been the victims of domestic violence.This can include signposting claimants to national and local organisations that provide specialist support. Work coaches can also apply a domestic violence easement, switching off a claimant’s all work-related requirements for a period of time.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to review the two-child benefit cap.

Alok Sharma: The policy to provide additional Universal Credit support for a maximum of two children encourages families who receive benefits to make the same financial decisions as those families who support themselves solely through work. Exceptions are an important part of the policy and we have always been clear they will be delivered in the most effective, compassionate way, with the right safeguards in place. We continue to monitor the impact of the policy. Written Statement HCWS653 on 27 April outlined a recent change to the policy It is worth noting that Child Benefit continues to be paid for all children plus an additional amount for any disabled children. Additional help for eligible childcare costs are also available regardless of the total number of children in the household.

Department for Work and Pensions: Policy

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the main policy priority is for her Department for 2018; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: The Department for Work and Pensions published an updated Single Departmental Plan on 23 May 2018. This set out the department’s main policy objectives and how it will achieve them. Single Departmental Plans will be revised annually to reflect new priorities or changes in responsibilities.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Cattle: Exports

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the export of unweaned calves for fattening after the UK leaves the EU.

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the prohibition of the export of unweaned calves for fattening.

George Eustice: The Government recognises there are concerns over the export of unweaned calves for fattening. The Government launched a call for evidence on improving animal welfare during transport after the UK leaves the EU, which included seeking information and evidence on the transport of unweaned animals. The call for evidence was issued on behalf of the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. The call for evidence has now closed and we are currently analysing the responses. We will be discussing the evidence with the Devolved Administrations. The Government and the Devolved Administrations have also asked the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) to look at what improvements could be made to the transport regulatory regime for all animals. We hope to receive the recommendations from the FAWC later in the year.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fines the Rural Payments Agency has paid to the EU as a result of (a) mistakes in payments and (b) late payments to farmers in the last five years; and what the value was of those fines.

George Eustice: The European Commission (EC) would expect the Rural Payments Agency to make recoveries or top up payments where the initial payment made was found to be inaccurate. These payment adjustments are not subject to EC fines.   However, the EC may apply fines, called disallowance, where they consider payments have been made which infringe scheme regulations or control measures. Financial penalties resulted in disallowance across a range of control measures, such as Cross Compliance; and a range of payment schemes disbursed by the RPA; and against payments which the Commission consider late. These are payments made outside of the regulatory payment window, which runs from 1 December to 30 June each year. The total disallowance applied by the commission is reported in the Annual Report and Accounts which are available at gov.uk. The split between disallowance (not including late payments) and late payment penalties within each published account is: Financial year per published Account£000 disallowance£000 late payment penalties2016-17112,390Nil2015-1693,565112014-153,156Nil2013-14103,6001,1922012-1323,518Nil

Flowers: UK Trade with EU

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the cost to florists of border delays for the import of flowers after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: The Government is committed to securing a deep and special partnership with the EU and wants to secure the freest trade possible in goods and services between the UK and the EU. We are confident we can achieve this, supporting trade and the smooth flow of goods across the border.

Furs: Imports

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the annual revenue from the import and sale of real fur into the UK.

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the sale of real fur.

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish his Department's report into the fur trade.

George Eustice: In 2017 the UK imported £63 million worth of fur and articles with fur. In the same year the UK exported £33 million worth of fur and articles with fur, suggesting that around £30 million was for UK use1.   The Government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare. The UK continues to support higher animal welfare standards worldwide as the best way of phasing out cruel and inhumane fur farming and trapping practices that are banned here.   The Government is planning that after we leave the EU, we will retain all the current regulations banning imports of cat and dog fur and seal products from commercial hunts, as well as controls on products from endangered species and humane trapping. It will be open to Governments in future, once the UK has left the EU, to consider whether they wish to go further than current EU arrangements.   The Government is not preparing a report on the fur trade.

Department for International Trade

Arms Trade: Sub-Saharan Africa

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the value of British defence exports to sub Saharan Africa was in each of the last three years.

Graham Stuart: The Government does not publish data detailing the value of defence exports by individual country.However, the estimated total of UK defence exports (based on orders/contracts signed) to Africa as a whole in each of the last three years is shown in the table below. YearTotal £Mil201410.94201516.86201641.01 The data is taken from the Department for International Trade’s Defence and Security Organisation (DIT DSO) official statistics which are released annually on the Gov.UK website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-trade-defence-and-security-organisation.

Department for International Trade: Policy

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the main policy priority is for his Department for 2018; and if he will make a statement.

George Hollingbery: The Department for International Trade (DIT) published its updated Single Departmental Plan on 23 May 2018. This sets out DIT’s ambitious agenda, outlining the Department’s vision, mission, and main policy objectives. It also explains how we will deliver these priorities over the next four years. DIT’s vision is a UK that trades its way to prosperity, stability and security. It has a mission to help businesses export, drive inward and outward investment, negotiate market access and trade deals, and champion free trade. Our core objectives as a department are to: Support and encourage UK businesses to drive sustainable international growth.Ensure the UK remains a leading destination for international investment and maintains its number one position for international investment stock in Europe.Open markets, building a trade framework with new and existing partners which is free and fair.Use trade and investment to underpin the government’s agenda for a global Britain and its ambitions for prosperity, stability and security worldwide. This plan will be revised annually to reflect new priorities or changes in responsibilities.

Trade Agreements

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which countries with which the UK has an international trade agreement in its capacity as a member state of the EU include provisions on protection against discrimination.

George Hollingbery: All EU free trade agreements (FTA) signed since the EU-South Korea FTA (2009) have contained a trade and sustainable development chapter. These chapters include reference to the International Labour Organization (ILO) fundamental conventions which, amongst other things, provide for the elimination of discrimination at work. Other trade agreements which contain these provisions are Georgia (2014), Moldova (2014) and Ukraine (2014), Canada (provisionally applied since 2017), and recently negotiated but yet to be applied agreements with Japan, Singapore and Vietnam. All Economic Partnership Agreements signed with developing countries also reference these conventions. The Government is committed to ensuring continuity for our existing EU trade agreements as we leave the European Union. Under the terms of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, the UK is to be treated as a Member State for the purposes of international agreements for the duration of the Implementation Period. This provides certainty and confidence that there will be no disruption to existing relationships underpinned by international agreements as we move into the Implementation Period. Indeed many of our trading partners have already issued public statements in support of it.